Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksExport to PDFBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ======The past continuous====== =====Introduction===== <html><p><a class="various" href="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/543_458b5b7491b2213988d3f7d2a4550129.jpg" rel="image_show"><img width="283" height="423" id="543" style="width: 97px; height: 148px;" alt="girl, rain, park, child, weather, wet, rainy, outdoor summer jump fille pluie" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/543_458b5b7491b2213988d3f7d2a4550129.jpg"></a> <b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";'>She <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was </span>play<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing </span>outside when it started to rain.</span></b></p><p><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";'></span></b><span style='color: rgb(42, 51, 51); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-fareast-language: FR;'></span></p></html> =====Construction===== <html><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Subject + past simple of 'to be' + the <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">present participle</span> of another verb - I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> go<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span>.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);"></span></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <table class="MsoTableLightListAccent1" style="border: currentColor; border-collapse: collapse; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-border-alt: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: -1; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes;"> <td width="140" valign="top" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-width: 1pt medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 104.65pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 5;"><b><span style='color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: background1;'>Affirmative</span></b><span style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></p></td> <td width="168" valign="top" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-width: 1pt medium; border-style: solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 126.35pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;"><b><span style='color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: background1;'>Negative 1</span></b><span style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></p></td> <td width="154" valign="top" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-width: 1pt medium; border-style: solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;"><b><span style='color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: background1;'>Negative 2</span></b><span style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></p></td> <td width="154" valign="top" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;"><b><span style='color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: background1;'>Interrogative</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0;"> <td width="140" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none none solid solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 104.65pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-top-alt: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span></span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>You <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">were</span> work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span></span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>He <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span></span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>She <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span></span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>It <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span></span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>We <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">were</span> work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span></span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>They <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">were</span> work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span></span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></p></td> <td width="168" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 126.35pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-top-alt: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was not </span>work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>You <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">were</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">not</span> work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>He <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">was </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">not </span>work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>She <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">was </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">not </span>work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>It <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">was</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);"> not </span>work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>We <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">were</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);"> not </span>work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>They <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204); mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">were</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);"> not </span>work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span></span></b></p></td> <td width="154" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-top-alt: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">wasn't</span> working</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>You <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">weren't</span> work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>He <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">wasn't</span> work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>She <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">wasn't</span> work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>It <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">wasn't </span>work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>We <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">weren't </span>work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>They <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">weren't</span> work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span></span></b></p></td> <td width="154" valign="top" style="border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 115.55pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-top-alt: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Was</span></b><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> I work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span>?</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Were</span></b><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> you work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span>?</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Was</span></b><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> he work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span>?</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Was</span></b><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> she work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span>?</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Was</span></b><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> it work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span>?</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Were</span></b><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> we work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span>?</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Were</span></b><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> they work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span>?</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><br></html> =====Uses===== <html><table class="MsoTableLightListAccent1" style="border: currentColor; border-image: none; border-collapse: collapse; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-border-alt: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: -1; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes;"> <td width="308" valign="top" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-width: 1pt medium medium 1pt; border-style: solid none none solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 5;"><b><span style='color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: background1;'>Uses</span></b><span style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></p></td> <td width="308" valign="top" style="background: rgb(79, 129, 189); border-width: 1pt 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid solid none none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 1;"><b><span style='color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: background1;'>Examples</span></b><span style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0;"> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>To talk about something that was happening at a specific time or date. We do not know when the action started or finished and this is not important. </span></b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;'></span></p></td> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> study<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> the past continuous at ten o'clock last night.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>It <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> rain<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing </span>all day yesterday.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);"></span></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>We <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">were</span> liv<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> in New Orleans in the 1980s.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);"></span></span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>To talk about something that happened during a specific period that we mention. The action fills the specified period.</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;'> </span></p></td> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: medium 1pt medium medium; border-style: none solid none none; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>What<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);"> were </span>you do<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing </span>between 6.30 and 8 o'clock last Saturday evening?</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was </span>work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> in Japan from 1972 to 1984.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>They <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">were</span> play<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> football for most of the morning.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td></tr> <tr> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>To talk about temporary situations in the past.</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></p></td> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>He <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> in London last year but he's back in Paris now.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Were</span></b><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> you liv<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> in a hotel whilst work<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> in London? </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> feed<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> Jane's cats whilst she was on holiday. </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;"> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>When something else happens in the time period of the past continuous action.</span></b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;'></span></p></td> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: medium 1pt medium medium; border-style: none solid none none; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> leav<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> when the telephone rang. </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Our dog found a bone when he <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> digg<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> in the garden.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>What <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> she do<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> when you saw her?</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;"> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>When two continuous actions were happening at the same time.</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></p></td> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> watch<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> the television whilst Susan <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> cook<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span>.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>What <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">were</span> you do<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> while John <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> paint<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> the door?</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>It wasn't rain<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> when I was hang<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> out the washing.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;"> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>With verbs of reflection and wishing in present situations and polite conversation.</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></p></td> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: medium 1pt medium medium; border-style: none solid none none; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> think<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> I might go for a walk later. </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> wonder<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> if you would mind helping me with this suitcase.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> hop<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing </span>that Sheila would visit this weekend. </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;"> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Abbreviated 'was going to', particularly with verbs describing motion. [Informal]</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></p></td> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>He <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> tak<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> me to a restaurant tonight but now he has to work late.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>We <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">were </span>meet<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> at 10 o'clock but now it has been postponed. </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 176, 80); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;"> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: medium medium medium 1pt; border-style: none none none solid; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>For past habits with words like always, constantly and forever. Normally these sentences show disapproval. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 4;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></p></td> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: medium 1pt medium medium; border-style: none solid none none; border-color: rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Our previous temp <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> always hav<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> problems with his PC.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>My last boyfriend <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> constantly cancell<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> at the last minute.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>The children <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">were</span> forever play<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> on their 'gameboys'.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td></tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;"> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>When explaining or asking for an explanation of a current or recent action, particularly if the action is seen as wrong.</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 68;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></p></td> <td width="308" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(79, 129, 189) rgb(240, 240, 240); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 231.05pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>What <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">were</span> you do<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> with my new computer? I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> only borrow<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing </span>it for a minute.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>Why <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">were</span> you look<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> in my desk drawer? I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> search<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> for the key to the filing cabinet.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-yfti-cnfc: 64;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table><br> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>For verbs that are not normally used in the continuous tense, please see the rules for <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">stative verbs</span>. </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></b> </p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>In English, there is often more than one way to say something. In certain cases, the use of the past simple past in the above examples is also grammatically correct. For example the sentence:</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(31, 73, 125); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text2;'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(31, 73, 125); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text2;'></span></b><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> watch<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> the television whilst Susan <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> cook<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span>.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'> </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>can also be expressed as:</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><br></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'></span></b><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>I watch<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ed</span> the television whilst Susan cook<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ed</span>.</span></b><br> </p></html> =====Examples===== <html><p><a class="various" href="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/503_c2b4060a9e378596969e29022f4d1f57.png" rel="image_show"><img width="275" height="183" id="503" style="width: 100px; height: 64px;" alt="bus stop mobile phone waiting subway transport station coach wait" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/503_c2b4060a9e378596969e29022f4d1f57.png"></a> <b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>He <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was </span>speak<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> on his mobile when the train arrived</span></b><font face="Calibri">.</font></p><p></p><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><p><img height="160" id="546" style="width: 93px; height: 103px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/546_473dfdd71b2b98364cc65fffdecc5774.jpg"> <b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>The bags split when I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> com<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> home from the supermarket.</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(31, 73, 125); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text2;'></span></b></p></span><p></p><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><p></p><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><p><img height="113" id="545" style="width: 94px; height: 94px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/545_5a9b76ef73e95822e1632cd2b81e99a1.jpg"> <b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>He <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> admir<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> a painting when I saw him</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(31, 73, 125); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text2;'>.</span></b></p></span></span><p></p><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><p></p><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><p></p><span style='color: rgb(42, 51, 51); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-no-proof: yes;'><p><img height="200" id="544" style="width: 94px; height: 146px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/544_9fa82b3d783eb5843e355a9e9e1d9d50.jpg"><b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><font face="arial" size="3"><font size="2"><font color="#000000">What</font> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">were </span><font color="#000000">you do</font><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> <font color="#000000">between the hours of sunset and sunrise on the 28th September?</font></font></font></span></b><span style='color: rgb(42, 51, 51); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";'> </span><b><span style='color: rgb(31, 73, 125); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-themecolor: text2;'></span></b></p></span></span></span><p><img height="175" id="542" style="width: 81px; height: 110px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/542_a3a854c6112a0bbdc6c7f816353172b5.jpg"> <b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>What <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">were</span> you do<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> with that biscuit? Well I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">was</span> think<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ing</span> of eating it.</span></b></p><p><br></p></html> [[en:grammar:home|{{ :file_-_back_3_.png?150 }}]]